Por Redaccion 
The Deputy Secretary of Autonomic Coordination of the PP, Elías Bendodo, highlighted on Monday in Oviedo the healthcare management of the Autonomous Communities governed by the PP compared to the policies of the PSOE in Asturias, a «land abandoned by socialism.»
Bendodo participated in the event organized by the European PP ‘More Spain, more Europe. Health, our priority’, which is part of the national route that the PP is celebrating prior to the XXVII Interparliamentary that the party will hold in Seville on March 29 and 30.
During his speech, Bendodo criticized the healthcare management of the Socialist Government, stating that «Asturias sets records for waiting lists with more than 60,000 Asturians waiting to be operated on,» while the PP’s CCAA «have prioritized investment in healthcare» and have «strengthened primary care in all autonomous communities they govern.»
The ‘popular’ leader accused the PSOE of having «false flags» in public healthcare, citing Vice President María Jesús Montero as an example, whom he criticized for having «cut 8,800 positions of healthcare professionals» when she was a councilor in Andalusia.
Likewise, Bendodo lashed out at the central government, stating that it «uses the Ministry of Health as a launching pad for socialist high-ranking officials» and that the current minister, Mónica García, «applies ideology in public management» instead of managing effectively.
In the regional context, the PP’s Deputy Secretary assured that if there were regional elections in the Principality of Asturias today, there would be a change of government with Álvaro Queipo at the helm. «It’s not the PP saying it, it’s not the PP knowing it, Barbón knows it and that’s the nervousness he has,» he stated.
QUEIPO BLAMES BARBÓN FOR THE LACK OF PROFESSIONALS
On the other hand, Álvaro Queipo stated that the «poor management» of the Government of Adrián Barbón has made healthcare one of the main concerns of Asturians «despite the region having excellent healthcare professionals.»
Queipo also blamed Barbón for the lack of healthcare professionals in Asturias, both in hospitals and primary care. «Barbón’s Government has failed to attract healthcare professionals to our land, without whom there is no public healthcare, while other regions have managed to offer better conditions and more stability,» he asserted.
The leader of the Asturian PP cited the case of the Jarrio hospital as an example, which has had a «increasingly difficult situation» since Barbón became president. The situation in the rest of Asturias, he added, «is not much better,» with almost 30,000 patients waiting for surgery, of which more than 2,000 have been waiting for over six months.
In this context, the President of the Asturian PP called on the Principality to halt the merger of healthcare areas, taking into account the situation of the Cabueñes Hospital and the failure of its expansion.
The Mayor of Oviedo, Alfredo Canteli, also spoke at the event, stating that improving healthcare is one of Spain’s challenges. The PP, he said, advocates for a healthcare policy «at the service of citizens,» with a shock plan in Primary Care or a general Health Law that eliminates «obsolete regulations.» All this, he added, with the aim of «putting healthcare at the service of Spaniards.»
Following these initial interventions, a round table was held with the participation of Asturian MEP Susana Solís; regional deputy Pilar Fernández Pardo; Health Minister of Castilla y León, Alejandro Vázquez; Health and Social Services Minister of Ceuta, Nabila Benziná; and Health and Consumer Vice Minister of Andalusia, María Luisa del Moral.